Fees-Too Complicated? :: Wessex Scene Online

Fees-Too Complicated?

21st January 2008
Philip Reynolds

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The introduction of last year’s controversial top-up fees has been criticised for making the student loans system "exceptionally complex" according to a London Economics report.

Commissioned by Milton+, a group that represents former polytechnic universities nationwide, the report found that the controversial system is now so difficult to understand that prospective students are being dissuaded from university applications in order to avoid the government’s overcomplicated funding system.

The current loan system offers universities the opportunity to charge their students fees that fall anywhere between Ł0 and Ł3,000, instead of the old system of ‘means testing’ which worked out tuition fees based on parental incomes and other economic factors, charging students up to a yearly maximum of Ł1,250.

Unsurprisingly, most universities opt to charge students the maximum Ł3000. These are then complicated by optional extra loans, including maintenance loans and bursaries, which apply to certain students, depending on their age and degree programme.

London Economics’ report also predicts that the forthcoming plans to raise the cap on fees above its current limit of Ł3,070, will further deter lower income students unless the entire fee system is fundamentally restructured, in order to simplify the process.

"The combination of differential fees, fee loans, maintenance loans, fee grants, maintenance grants, bursaries and the education maintenance allowance make the entire package almost impossible to understand," it says.

Head of Million+ Les Ebdon commented that: "This report is a reality check for us all. If widening participation remains a goal, there is a strong argument to streamline future arrangements and for a more holistic approach."

Bill Rammell, the minister for higher education said: "Our current system of student finance is proving very successful. A record number of students (306,000) accepted places at universities in 2007, a rise of 6% from 2006 - the highest ever."

One first year student at Southampton commented that, "the different kinds of loans and top up fees made the whole process a nightmare for me. I didn’t know what to apply for, there should be more information made available to new students.’

Students in their final years claimed they were, ‘extremely relieved’ at avoiding the additional complexities of the new loan system, ‘I thought the old style loan system was enough, this all seems like too much’ said one.

For free , information about student financial issues visit info.susu.org.